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Michael Jackson tour could have made $1.5 billion, accountant says

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Michael Jackson would have earned $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion if his ill-fated “This Is It” concerts in London had turned into a worldwide tour, an accountant with decades of experience working with pop music acts testified Monday in downtown Los Angeles.

Jackson had been scheduled to perform 50 shows in London’s 02 Arena when he died in June 2009 as he prepared for the comeback tour.

Arthur L. Erk testified as an expert witness for Jackson’s mother and three children, who are suing concert promoter and producer AEG Live and two of its executives in the wrongful-death case. Erk based his projections, he said, on AEG budgets, emails from company executives, Jackson’s written notes and testimony in the wrongful-death case.

The white-haired Erk, wearing a dark suit and a white shirt, looked the antithesis of the rock world. A certified public accountant in New York, Erk has worked with many rock and rap acts, including Kiss, Britney Spears and Notorious B.I.G.

His projections, sure to be attacked on cross-examination by AEG’s lawyers, are the first indication in the trial of damages the jury will be asked to award the Jacksons.

Erk, who described his financial calculation as conservative, said his projections included a 37-month tour with the London shows and an average of two concerts a week in Central Europe, Asia, Australia and the U.S. He said he also included a 10-year show in Las Vegas based on Jackson’s music, where the singer would not have performed. It also included sales of merchandise and endorsements.

AEG sold 750,000 tickets to Jackson’s London concerts in five hours, meaning the equivalent of 1.4% of Great Britain’s population bought tickets. Erk said the tickets sold in “record-breaking time. It never happened before, and it still hasn’t happened again.”

The jury was shown a chart from Billboard magazine of the highest-grossing tours of 2009, led by U2, Madonna and Paul McCartney. Jackson, he said, would have beat them all.

“Michael Jackson was in a class by himself,” Erk said. “He was known as the King of Pop. There’s no one who comes close to him.”

His projections include the often-extravagant Jackson spending $134,386,236 total over the next 15 years, which took him to age 65 and retirement, Erk said.

His projections did not include CD and songwriting royalties, since Jackson would have received those anyway, said Kevin Boyle, one of the Jackson family’s attorneys.

Erk figured that if AEG charged $108 a ticket for the concerts, Jackson’s worldwide tour and the Las Vegas show would net him $1,127,378,787. If tickets were $200 each, what were described as his “lost economic damages” would total $1,511,182,374.

“Demand was so wild that he probably could have charged more for tickets and still sold out,” Erk said.

Erk pointed to the singer’s record sales. “Thriller” sold 65 million copies worldwide, “Bad” 45 million, “Dangerous” 32 million, “Off the Wall” and “HIStory” 20 million and “Invincible” 13 million.

“Looking at it historically, he has a huge fan base,” the accountant said.

Although he had only signed a contract for the 50 London concerts, AEG was hopeful Jackson would follow it up with a four-year tour.

AEG Live chief executive Randy Phillips was ecstatic after the astonishingly swift sale of the London tickets, and at the same time worried about the star.

“We could have done 200 plus shows based on demand,” he wrote in an email. “Major stars like Coldplay, Akon, Blackeye Peas, etc., want to support. We so underestimated the demand.

“Now I have to get him on stage. Scary!”

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A compilation of interviews, rehearsals, and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London.

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Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Surpasses Michael Jackson’s This Is It as Highest-Grossing Concert Film of All Time

By Nina Corcoran

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour has officially become the highest-grossing concert film of all time, surpassing Michael Jackson ’s 2009 film Michael Jackson’s This Is It. With today’s box office tallies added to the total, Taylor Swift ’s movie has exceeded $261.6 million globally, reports Variety . Comparatively, This Is It grossed $261.2 million in theaters.

Swift was already on track to break the record when The Eras Tour debuted, as the film brought in $126 million globally— the biggest opening weekend for a concert film ever. Directed by Sam Wrench, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour follows the pop star and her dancers onstage as she plays 40 songs from 10 albums, with no backstage or behind-the-scenes footage included. Tickets cost $19.89 for adults (an homage to Swift’s birth year and album of the same name) and $13.13 (her favorite number) for children under 12 and people over 60.

Instead of releasing the concert film in all theaters, Swift partnered with AMC Theatres—the world’s largest cinema chain—for a nontraditional release exclusively in their theaters. This allowed her to earn 57% of ticket revenue as a producer of the movie, with those individual theaters taking the majority of the rest.

“On behalf of all of us at AMC Theatres, I send my congratulations and eternal gratitude to Taylor Swift for her remarkable and record-setting box office performance with Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film,” said AMC chairman and CEO Adam Aron. “Her spectacular performance delighted fans around the world and serves as another strong reminder about the power of extraordinary filmmaking and magic of movie theaters.”

This same evening, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour was in the running for a new award at the 2024 Golden Globes : Cinematic and Box Office Achievement . It was created to “give popular films a place in this award season,” according to Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne. Swift’s concert film, however, lost to Barbie.

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By Madison Bloom

By Eric Torres

By Matthew Strauss

By Shaad D’Souza

By Jazz Monroe

Here are the 10 highest-grossing concert movies of all time

• "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" has made $261.6 million at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing concert doc of all time.
• Michael Jackson's 2009 "This Is It" documentary was the previous record-holder.
• Here are the top 10 highest-grossing concert documentaries of all time at the worldwide box office.

Note: All figures below are from Box Office Mojo , Deadline , and Screen Daily .

10. "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie" (2011) — $18.6 million

9. "U2: 3D" (2007) — $22.7 million

8. "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" (2009) — $23.1 million

7. "Madonna: Truth or Dare" (1991) — $29 million

6. "Katy Perry: Part of Me" (2012) — $32.7 million

5. "One Direction: This Is Us" (2013) — $68.5 million

4. "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" (2008) — $70.6 million

3. "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" (2011) — $99 million

2. "Michael Jackson's This Is It" (2009) — $261.1 million

1. "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" (2023) — $261.6 million (and counting)

• Main content

The Top 13 Highest-Grossing Concert Films of All Time

From “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” to Martin Scorsese’s “Shine a Light”

“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” made a surprise appearance on the theatrical release calendar this October and has already become the second-highest grossing concert documentary ever, drawing in fans who wanted to re-experience her Eras Tour in movie form and those who weren’t able to catch this summer’s concert. But while “The Eras Tour” movie still isn’t the top music doc (yet), it’s something of an outlier when it comes to just how much it’s made at the box office — $178 million and counting.

Several other big-name musicians and bands have released documentaries about their tours or certain albums, but the only ones to come close to the success of “The Eras Tour” include Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber, so far. Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” tour documentary, slated for a Dec. 1 release, could further shake up the stats and the box office.

Below we’ve rounded up a list of the highest grossing concert movies of all time, including Miley Cyrus, BTS and One Direction.

1. “Michael Jackson: This Is It” – $261 Million

The king of pop still reigns supreme with his posthumous concert documentary.

2. “ Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” – $178 Million So Far

Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” concert documentary, directed by Sam Wrench, launched in theaters via AMC on Oct. 12.

3. “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” – $99 Million

Released in February 2011, Justin Bieber’s concert documentary was produced by Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, Scooter Braun and L.A. Reid Media. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures. Justin Bieber’s 2013 concert doc “Believe” made $10 million worldwide.

4. “Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert” – $70.6 Million

This 2008 concert film transitioned Miley Cyrus from star of Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel to an artist in her own right.

5. “One Direction: This Is Us” – $68.5 Million

One Direction — the heartthrob boy band formed by Simon Cowell on “The X Factor” — clocks in the top 5 with “This Is Us.” The band split up in 2015, with all five members attempting solo musical careers.

6. “Katy Perry: Part of Me” – $32.7 Million

Katy Perry’s “Part of Me” came out in 2012 when she was breaking up with Russell Brand. Since then, she has married Orlando Bloom, judged on “American Idol” and performed at the coronation of King Charles III.

7. “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul: Live Viewing” – $32.6 Million

The K-Pop band’s 2022 concert documentary contains a series of performances they headlined.

8. “BTS: Yet To Come in Cinemas” – $29.2 million

This film about the South Korean boy band spotlights their free show at Busan’s World Expo in October 2023. More than 50,000 people were in attendance.

9. “Madonna: Truth or Dare” – $29 million

Released in 1991, this documentary followed the singer’s controversial “Blond Ambition” tour. Madonna recently embarked on her “The Celebration” tour after a health scare.

10. “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” – $23.2 million

Although we’re not quite to the year 3000 yet, the Jo Bros have grown up quite a bit since their concert film came out in 2009.

11. “U2: 3D” – $22.7 million

U2 also had their 1988 “Rattle and Hum” documentary, which grossed $8.6 million.

12. “Glee: The 3D Concert Movie” – $18.7 million

In addition to its six-season run on Fox, “Glee” got a concert movie experience in 2011.

13. “Shine a Light” – $15.7 million

Martin Scorsese’s documentary about the Rolling Stones includes footage from their “A Bigger Bang” tour.

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Michael Jackson's This Is It

Where to watch.

Rent Michael Jackson's This Is It on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

While it may not be the definitive concert film (or the insightful backstage look) some will hope for, Michael Jackson's This Is It packs more than enough entertainment value to live up to its ambitious title.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Kenny Ortega

Michael Jackson

Darryl Phinnessee

Timor Steffens

Dreya Weber

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A compilation of interviews, rehearsals, and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London. A compilation of interviews, rehearsals, and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London. A compilation of interviews, rehearsals, and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London.

• Kenny Ortega
• Michael Jackson
• Alexandra Apjarova
• 243 User reviews
• 137 Critic reviews
• 67 Metascore
• 6 wins & 10 nominations

• Dancer at the Audition

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Guitarist Orianthi Panagaris states in an interview that she received an invite to audition for a spot on the tour via MySpace. When she showed up to audition, Jackson and other producers asked her to play the solo from the song "Beat It." After playing the piece, Jackson approached Panagaris, took her arm, and asked if she could play the solo walking across the stage at a specific speed. When she responded she could handle the assignment, Jackson hired her on the spot.

Michael Jackson : [to guitarist Orianthi Panagaris, encouraging her to play louder] This is your moment to shine.

• Crazy credits There are two scenes after the closing credits. The first was a clip of Michael rehearsing "Human Nature" a couple of weeks before his death. The other was a video of the little girl who appeared in "Earth Song" holding the earth with the words "Heal The World" above her, followed by Michael's signature, and his final message to his fans: "I love you."
• Connections Edited from The Whole Town's Talking (1935)
• Soundtracks They Don't Care About Us Written and Performed by Michael Jackson

User reviews 243

• casperladeby
• Oct 28, 2009
• How long is This Is It? Powered by Alexa
• Is there anything after the end credits?
• Were any body doubles used in the rehearsal footage shown ?
• October 28, 2009 (United States)
• United States
• Official Facebook
• Michael Jackson's This Is It
• Staples Center - 1111 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Columbia Pictures
• The Michael Jackson Company
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $60,000,000 (estimated)
• $72,091,016
• $23,234,394
• Nov 1, 2009
• $267,983,588

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 51 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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30 of the top-grossing music tours of all time

A record-setting $10.4 billion was spent in 2018 on concert tickets around the world. Thanks to streaming services and the preference of audiences for singles,  album sales are down overall , but it's clear fans are still willing to pay to see their favorite artists in person. And their proximity to the artist doesn’t seem to matter, as ticket sales are up in every venue from intimate clubs to massive stadiums.

Stacker has rounded up 30 of the top-grossing music tours of all time. These tours were largely played in stadiums, but a few included smaller venues. The data have been pulled from a compiled list of sources, and concerts have been ranked by the tour’s gross (adjusted for inflation). While this is not a comprehensive list of all concert tours, it’s the most accurate representation as of January 2019.

Two of the tours on the list are still announcing new dates, so if you want to be part of concert tour history, consider snagging tickets now while you have the chance.

ALSO: Highest-paid musicians in 2018

#30. Pink Floyd: A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $272,863,087 Total tour attendance: 5.50 million Shows played: 197 Year(s): 1987–89

The English rock band  Pink Floyd formed in 1965. Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright were students when they met and began playing together, but their famous "A Momentary Lapse of Reason” tour didn’t come until much later, toward the end of their time as a group. In fact, Waters had left the band by the time this Pink Floyd tour took place and was  replaced by David Gilmour .

#29. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Magic Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $273,464,451 Total tour attendance: 2.20 million Shows played: 100

Year(s): 2007–08

For many an instrumentalist, landing a job with  the E Street Band would be a dream come true. The band has backed Bruce Springsteen from his debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” in 1973, but, contrary to popular belief, they weren’t always Springsteen’s band. They were merely a group of local musicians who came together for a paid gig (the album recording) and then ended up getting enough paid gigs after that (for both Springsteen and other musicians) that it made sense to become a band. From 2007-2008, the band joined Springsteen for a  23-songs-per-set tour that was called "euphoric” and "profound.”

#28. Bon Jovi: Because We Can

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $279,110,786 Total tour attendance: 2.66 million Shows played: 102 Year(s): 2013

New Jersey band  Bon Jovi appeared on the scene in 1980 with big hair and electric smiles. Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Alec John Such, and Richie Sambora made up the original band, which had hits like "Livin’ on a Prayer” and "You Give Love a Bad Name.” Their "Because We Can” tour was wildly successful, with the group  hitting multiple continents , but it was also full of drama, as  Sambora quit the band in the middle night, hours before their fourth show.

#27. The Eagles: Long Road Out of Eden Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $288,513,488 Total tour attendance: 2.0 million Shows played: 155 Year(s): 2008–11

One of the  most successful musical acts of the 1970s , The Eagles (originally composed of Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner) set out on their "Long Road Out of Eden” tour in 2008. The tour  coincided with the release of their new album of the same name and featured other artists like The Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban.

#26. Paul McCartney: Out There!

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $291,414,474 Total tour attendance: 1.96 million Shows played: 84 Year(s): 2013–15

Ever since his days as a Beatle, Paul McCartney has been wildly popular. In 2013, he embarked on his solo  "Out There!” tour , during which he played 91 gigs, sang a total of 3,631 songs (an average of 40 a show)—including 13 that he’d never performed before—and  drank zero glasses of water while on stage.

#25. Billy Joel: Billy Joel in Concert

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $301,000,000 Total tour attendance: 2.07 million Shows played: 120 Year(s): 2014–present

One of two tours on the list that is still announcing new dates, Billy Joel’s "Billy Joel in Concert” tour so far has booked 16 dates for 2019. While on this tour, Joel has created a sort of  residency for himself at Madison Square Garden, playing one show there a month, as long as ticket sales stay high (already six dates at MSG have been announced for 2019). The first artist to do that, Joel also broke the record for solo performances at The Garden, previously held by Sir Elton John, when he played his  65th concert on July 1, 2015 .

#24. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: The Rising Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $301,677,551 Total tour attendance: 3.23 million Shows played: 120 Year(s): 2002–03

Another wildly popular Bruce Springsteen tour, "The Rising Tour” began a week after the release of Springsteen’s 12th studio album, "The Rising."  The album won critical acclaim for how well it captured the feelings and aftermath of 9/11. However, the tour didn’t get off to an equally great start—Rolling Stone  called the tour’s opening nights "inhibited," pointing to tech and tonal issues. Eventually, the tour hit its stride, bringing in $300 million over its 14-month run.

#23. One Direction: Where We Are Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $307,106,208 Total tour attendance: 3.44 million Shows played: 69 Year(s): 2014

After  finishing third on "The X Factor” in 2003, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne found almost unprecedented levels of success with One Direction. Winning comparisons to The Beatles for both their popularity and their British origins, their "Where We Are Tour” was the group’s fourth and final tour as a complete band. ( Malik left in the spring of 2015 .)

#22. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: The River Tour 2016

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $319,972,060 Total tour attendance: 2.67 million Shows played: 89 Year(s): 2016–17

Bruce Springsteen went on tour with the E Street Band in 2016 to mark the 35th anniversary of his 1980 EP "The River.” There are a whopping 20 songs on the album, and Springsteen  performed it in its entirety at all North American tour stops. That set list, combined with a collection of his classic hits like "Born to Run” and "Thunder Road” meant that many of the shows  lasted upwards of three hours . His  longest concert ever took place during this tour, clocking in at just over four hours.

#21. Cher: Living Proof: The Farewell Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $320,710,513 Total tour attendance: 3.50 million Shows played: 326 Year(s): 2002–05

Cher is known for her extravagant concerts, with multiple costume changes, elaborate sets, dancers, and video montages. "The Farewell Tour”  was no exception . When the tour was announced in 2002, Cher claimed that it would be her last (spoiler alert: it wasn’t), and planned a massive, glittery farewell for herself with an incredible 326 stops. While 3.5 million fans were lucky enough to attend the concerts, millions more were able to watch a televised special that  won three Emmy Awards .

#20. Celine Dion: Taking Chances World Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $326,058,136 Total tour attendance: 2.60 million Shows played: 132 Year(s): 2008–09

Celine Dion’s "Taking Chances World Tour” marked her return to the touring circuit after taking an extended break for her first Las Vegas residency, " A New Day... ” The tour was  directed by Jamie King , who also directed Madonna’s "Confessions World Tour,” and included lots of new material from Dion’s album "Taking Chances,” as well as several of her classics like "My Heart Will Go On” and "The Prayer.”

#19. U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $329,889,628 Total tour attendance: 2.71 million Shows played: 51 Year(s): 2017

On a crisp fall afternoon in Dublin in 1976, Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. gathered in Mullen’s kitchen and  decided to form a band : U2. A half-dozen albums later, U2 released "The Joshua Tree” in 1987, which won them the Grammy for Album of the Year and spawned two of their most classic tracks, "With or Without You” and "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” In 2017, marking the 30th anniversary of their landmark album, the group embarked on their " Joshua Tree Tour ,” in which they played the entire song list in order every night.

#18. Madonna: The MDNA Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $333,024,687 Total tour attendance: 2.21 million Shows played: 88 Year(s): 2012

In 2012, Madonna’s "MDNA Tour,” which followed the release of her 12th studio album of the same name, was the highest-grossing tour of the year. It didn't  come without controversy , though. The tour opened on a cathedral backdrop with biblical scriptures booming from the speakers and men dressed as monks filling the stage, before quickly shifting into Madonna’s #1 hits "Girl Gone Wild” and "Material Girl.” Later in the show, Madonna pulled out a fake gun and "shot” multiple people, a move that didn’t go over well with some audience members.

#17. Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $345,700,000 Total tour attendance: 2.89 million Shows played: 53 Year(s): 2018

Taylor Swift began her career as a country artist; her self-titled debut hit shelves in 2006 and was full of twangy guitar and fiddle interludes. These days, she’s very much a pop artist, and her sixth studio album, "Reputation,” proves it. The  accompanying tour , which lasted for a large portion of 2018, also proved that she has a massive fan base whose members go to great lengths to support her. Swift's sets primarily came from the "Reputation,” album with only one or two classics mixed in.

#16. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $364,300,000 Total tour attendance: 4.74 million Shows played: 390 Year(s): 2014–17

Unlike Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks is a huge believer in  playing the old stuff . The "Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour” is a perfect example of that. Married in 2005, the country music powerhouses teamed up for this three-year-long party, singing hits from both of their solo repertoires, as well as some of their fan-favorite duets like "In Another’s Eyes.”

#15. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Wrecking Ball World Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $415,280,347 Total tour attendance: 3.65 million Shows played: 136 Year(s): 2012–13

The final Bruce Springsteen tour on this list, the "Wrecking Ball World Tour” has been Springsteen’s most successful tour to date. Grossing over $400 million, the tour was  his first in three years (a long break for the Boss) and his most heavily attended of all time.

#14. The Rolling Stones: Bridges to Babylon Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $421,181,298 Total tour attendance: N/A Shows played: 108 Year(s): 1997–98

Closing in on six decades of being " the greatest rock & roll band in the world ,” the Rolling Stones are one of the  oldest bands still performing today . Announced at a news conference  held under the Brooklyn Bridge , the Stones’ "Bridges to Babylon” tour supported their album of the same name—their 23rd U.S. studio album.

#13. The Police: Reunion Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $421,251,623 Total tour attendance: 3.30 million Shows played: 156 Year(s): 2007–08

Proving that we often don’t know a good thing ‘til it’s gone, The Police’s reunion tour grossed more than any of their heyday tours. The band reunited for 156 shows, playing their  final show at Madison Square Garden . Most nights of the tour opened with their classic hit "Message in a Bottle,” but the August 2008 show began with Cream’s "Sunshine of Your Love”—a moving tribute to the band who had played their own final show at MSG years prior. The last song the band played live together? "Next to You.” That was the first song on their 1978 debut LP.

#12. Pink Floyd: The Division Bell Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $422,597,665 Total tour attendance: 6.0 million Shows played: 110 Year(s): 1994

When Pink Floyd  played their final tour in 1994 , only two of the band’s founding members (Nick Mason and Richard Wright) took the stage. They were joined by David Gilmour, who became an official member in the late 1980s, and eight other musicians who filled the holes left by Syd Barrett and Roger Waters. This final tour was run in conjunction with the release of the group’s final album, "The Division Bell.”

#11. The Rolling Stones: Licks Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $423,574,349 Total tour attendance: 3.47 million Shows played: 115 Year(s): 2002–03

To  mark their 40th anniversary , the Rolling Stones released their first compilation album, "Forty Licks,” which featured 40 of their most popular and beloved songs. They also went on a year-long tour, primarily playing the  songs on the compilation , but sprinkling in a handful of other band favorites.

#10. Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $476,474,639 Total tour attendance: 3.55 million Shows played: 85 Year(s): 2008–09

Her eighth tour supporting her 11th album "Hard Candy,” the "Sticky & Sweet” tour was Madonna’s  least controversial tour . Known for gimmicks like hanging from a cross, the "Sticky & Sweet” tour had none of that. It did include an impressive array of the pop diva’s most famous hits from her 30-year career, as well as some iconic dance moves, but it was perhaps the pop star’s most family-friendly tour ever.

#9. U2: Vertigo Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $483,515,954 Total tour attendance: 4.62 million Shows played: 131 Year(s): 2005–06

Concert films have become a major trend over the last several decades, and U2’s "Vertigo” tour was no exception. The tour, whose set list leaned heavily on the band’s most recent release "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,” spurred three concert films: " Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago ,” " Vertigo: Live from Milan ,” and " U2 3D .”

#8. Roger Waters: The Wall Live

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $493,336,432 Total tour attendance: 4.13 million Shows played: 219 Year(s): 2010–13

Roger Waters, a founding member of Pink Floyd, embarked on a solo career in the mid-1980s. His tour "The Wall Live” has been called "one of the most ambitious and complex rock shows ever staged.” It also marked  the first time that "The Wall” had been played in its entirety since a one-off performance beside the (fallen) Berlin Wall in 1990.

#7. AC/DC: Black Ice World Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $506,821,305 Total tour attendance: 4.85 million Shows played: 167 Year(s): 2008–10

In 1973, Australian brothers Malcolm and Angus Young  founded AC/DC . They didn’t stay a duo for long, swiftly being joined, and left, by a variety of other musicians. Their biggest album, "For Those About to Rock, We Salute You,” topped charts in 1983, but in 2008 they were still going strong. Their "Black Ice World Tour” was significant for being  the last full tour of longtime vocalist Brian Johnson.

#6. The Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $526,158,550 Total tour attendance: 6.34 million Shows played: 124 Year(s): 1994–95

For close to a decade, and through several of their other tours, the "Voodoo Lounge” tour was the Rolling Stones’ top-grossing tour. It’s a particularly impressive feat when you consider that the band, which by this time had been performing together for 30 years,  had just lost a member . Bill Wyman walked away from the band, saying that he was tired of touring and would no longer continue playing with the group. Beginning with the "Voodoo” tour, Wyman was replaced with the group’s  current bassist, Darryl Jones .

#5. Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $546,023,369 Total tour attendance: 5.39 million Shows played: 114 Year(s): 2016–17

No matter your personal taste in music, it’s highly probable that you know Coldplay’s breakthrough single, "Yellow,” which climbed the charts in 2000. The British pop-rock band, fronted by Chris Martin, has had a series of wildly successful albums over the past two decades. In 2016–2017, their tour "A Head Full of Dreams” became one of the top-grossing tours of all time, showing just how big an influence the group has had on the music scene. The tour also spawned the group’s  only live album "Live in Buenos Aires,” recorded at the final show.

#4. Ed Sheeran: '÷' Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $556,500,000 Total tour attendance: 6.39 million Shows played: 205 Year(s): 2017– present

British-born pop singer Ed Sheeran  released his debut album "+” in 2011, and it instantly won him millions of fans. In a genius move, he signed with Elton John’s management team the same year, and the rest, as they say, is history. His third album "÷” was released in 2017, and the album’s tour began the same year. The tour has been far and away Sheeran’s best. So many fans are still demanding to see him that there are regular shows scheduled until August 2019, with the possibility of adding even more dates.

#3. Guns N' Roses: Not in This Lifetime... Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $563,300,000 Total tour attendance: 4.38 million Shows played: 159 Year(s): 2016–18

By the mid-1980s, the rock and roll scene had begun to feel a little stale. Nothing new, or exciting, or experimental had popped up in a number of years. But in 1985, that all changed when Guns N’ Roses hit the stage. Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler mixed elements of classic rock with metal undertones and slasher influences and brought something totally new to the industry. However, in 1993, the band began to splinter. Their "Not in This Lifetime…” tour marked the first time in over two decades that Rose, Slash, and McKagan shared a stage—something fans were clearly excited to see.

#2. The Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $674,547,559

Total tour attendance: 4.68 million

Shows played: 144

Year(s): 2005–07

For a few years, the Rolling Stones held the title for the top-grossing tour of all time thanks to their "A Bigger Bang” tour. Avid Stones fans claim that this is the group’s best tour, but it’s also one that almost didn’t happen. Midway through the tour, the Stones took a month-long break. While on vacation with his wife in Fiji,  Keith Richards took a hard fall out of a coconut tree and suffered a major concussion. Richards said he only "spent a couple of days” in the hospital; it later came out that he’d actually  had brain surgery to remove a blood clot resulting from the fall.

#1. U2: 360º Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $820,194,986

Total tour attendance: 7.27 million

Shows played: 110

Year(s): 2009–11

The honor for top-grossing music tour of all time is held by U2. And this tour was big. Not only did the tour break the record for the highest-grossing tour, but the band’s Oct. 25, 2009 date at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, also holds the  record for the highest attendance at a single concert with over 97,000 people. In addition, U2 had a  stage set that was 164 feet high that accompanied them to every venue—twice the height of the previous stage set record.

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Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Movie Is Now the Most Successful Concert Film and Doc Ever

By Jon Blistein

Jon Blistein

As a counterweight to snubs and bad jokes at the Golden Globes last night, Taylor Swift at least has reason to celebrate her Eras Tour movie becoming the highest-grossing concert film and documentary ever.

In a press release , AMC Theaters said Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour has now raked in over $261.6 million globally, just putting it past the previous record holder, Michael Jackson’s This Is It . That film was released in 2009, just a few months after Jackson’s death, and grossed $261.2 million.

The Eras Tour movie was always likely to achieve this feat. It became the top-grossing concert film in America the week it opened back in October, grossing around $97 million. That immediately put it past previous domestic champs, Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never , with $73 million, and This Is It at $72 million.  

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In recognition of the wild success of The Eras Tour , the documentary earned a nomination for the Golden Globes’ new Cinematic and Box Office Achievement prize. Swift was on hand at the show last night, though the film ended up losing to Barbie. (To add insult to injury, she also had to endure a very rough joke from host Jo Koy about her boyfriend Travis Kielce and the NFL.)

Swift is set to resume the Eras Tour in February with a run of shows in Asia and Australia, followed by a European and U.K. that starts in May and runs through the summer. She’ll then close the record-breaking trek out for good with one more slate of shows in the U.S. and Canada in October and November.

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Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)

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Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Becomes Highest-Grossing Concert Film of All Time, Surpassing Michael Jackson

By Steven J. Horowitz

Steven J. Horowitz

Senior Music Writer

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Taylor Swift is starting off 2024 with yet another historic milestone under her belt.

Following the release of “ Taylor Swift : The Eras Tour” to United States theaters on October 13, Swift’s movie is officially the highest-grossing film in box office history among concert and documentary films with more than $261.6 million earned globally. The feat comes a week after “The Eras Tour” opened in China , with a tally of $8.7 million following its debut on December 31.

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Swift’s latest accomplishment comes after a non-traditional release for “The Eras Tour.” Instead of opting for distribution from a major studio, she partnered with AMC Theatres , the world’s largest cinema chain. This allowed for Swift, as a producer on the movie, to reap about 57% of ticket sales, while theaters kept the remaining revenue and AMC took a small distribution fee. AMC didn’t exclusively screen the film, though, as it played in 3,855 theaters throughout the U.S. and Canada and 4,527 venues internationally.

“On behalf of all of us at AMC Theatres, I send my congratulations and eternal gratitude to Taylor Swift for her remarkable and record-setting box office performance with ‘ Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour ‘ concert film,” says AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron. “Her spectacular performance delighted fans around the world and serves as another strong reminder about the power of extraordinary filmmaking and magic of movie theaters.”

Swift mania shows no signs of slowing down, as the pop superstar plans to resume her Eras Tour on Feb. 7 with a four-night stint at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. She’ll tour the world throughout the year, concluding the trek in Vancouver, BC in December.

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How The Eras Tour Movie Is Shaping Up For a Historic Box Office Run

T aylor Swift is a business mastermind—the star knows exactly what her fans want and how to deliver just that. High demand for Swift’s history-making Eras Tour essentially broke Ticketmaster, making the ticket-buying process a headache for millions of fans who hoped to see the pop star’s three-hour musical journey through her album eras. But those who missed the live tour will get to see a version of it beginning in October, when the concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour hits theaters across the globe. In the lead-up to the film’s release, Swift’s fans have already proven their buying power, breaking advanced global box office records previously held by other musical artists.

Following its opening weekend, an AMC press report says that the film opened domestically with a total gross of $92.8 million, smashing the domestic opening weekend $73 million record that Justin Bieber set in 2011 with his Never Say Never concert film. The movie brought in an additional $30.7 million from the global box office, bringing the total gross to $123.5 million—officially making Swift’s Eras Tour film the biggest global opening weekend for a concert film ever.

EntTelligence estimates that 4.8 million Swifties attended a showing this past weekend and 80% of the audience were women.

this is like the treaty of versailles for stan twitter https://t.co/3iAtkt09fi — yasmin (@ycsm1n) October 12, 2023

Swift self-produced the project and circumvented the traditional Hollywood distribution process by partnering with AMC Theaters rather than a big studio to distribute the movie—a significant feat only possible for an artist of her stature. A superstar like Swift creates entire news cycles that revolve around her extracurricular activities and the condiments she seemingly eats with her chicken tenders.

Here’s everything you need to know about how Swift made her concert film happen—and just how historic it could be at the box office.

How did Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour get made?

According to Variety , Swift initially held meetings with major studios before her tour started to discuss plans to distribute a pro shot of one of her SoFi Stadium shows in Los Angeles. A studio executive who spoke with Variety said they pitched Swift’s camp but stopped hearing from the pop star’s team this summer. At the end of August, Swift announced that the concert movie would be released in mid-October.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

Swift partnered directly with AMC Theaters to distribute the film, Variety reported, though the theater does not have exclusive rights to the distribution. The movie will also be released in Cinemark and Regal theaters in over eight thousand movie theaters around the world. Swift put her own money into the movie, according to The New York Times , which reports it “cost Ms. Swift roughly $15 million to make.

Swift is expected to “collect an additional $60 million overseas — at a minimum — over the weekend,” according to the Times .

The deal between Swift and AMC Theaters is lucrative for both parties as they cut out the studio middlemen. According to Variety , “Swift’s camp will receive roughly 57% of ticket sales, with theaters keeping the remaining revenues and AMC taking a small distribution fee (much less than what studios would have charged). As for exhibitors, many feel it’s a generous deal, noting that Marvel movies receive roughly 65% of box office profits.”

How much is The Eras Tour movie expected to earn?

Fans were quick to snag tickets to showings following Swift’s announcement. The Eras Tour concert film has already collected $100 million in advance ticket sales, setting a precedent for what’s to come opening weekend. In an early September press release, AMC Theaters announced Swift broke the record for single-day advance sales, earning $26 million in tickets sold. The previous record was held by Spider-Man: No Way Home , which sold $16.9 million in a single day. According to The New York Times , the concert film is on track to make around $125 million opening weekend in the United States alone. Swift is expected to “collect an additional $60 million overseas — at a minimum — over the weekend.”

While the fervor of the Swifties will carry the movie to unprecedented heights, the pop star did receive an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA, which is still on strike, to promote the film. Swift is a member of the SAG-AFTRA union and was granted the agreement because it was produced in compliance with the union’s strike rules.

How do the early projection numbers for The Eras Tour movie compare to other concert films?

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film is already on track to become a global phenomenon. Her advance ticket sales have outgrossed Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never film, which brought in $99 million. This makes it the second highest-grossing concert film ever even before opening, just behind Michael Jackson’s This is It , which grossed over $380 million (adjusted for inflation). At the premiere on Wednesday, Swift announced that the film would be opening a day early in North America due to the demand, which will only increase the size of the opening weekend haul. The film be playing in theaters for at least four weeks, and there’s no telling just how long the film will continue to play given the Swifties’ hunger for any Swift content.

Where might this movie fall in this year’s box office rankings?

After a pandemic-induced decline, audiences are returning to the movies in droves, especially when some movies as advertised as a mass cultural event not to be missed. Last year saw mega-hits like the Tom Cruise-led Top Gun: Maverick and James Cameron’s return to Pandora with the Avatar sequel , the former grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide and the latter becoming the third highest grossing movie of all-time with a global worldwide haul of $2.3 billion.

This year has seen a few releases find major success at the box office, including the cultural phenomenon Barbie —which currently claims the title of the highest-grossing movie of 2023, raking in over $1.4 billion globally . The No. 2 spot is owned by The Super Mario Bros. Movie , with a worldwide gross totaling over $1.3 billion . Those are high targets to compete with, but based on current projections, the Eras Tour should rank around no. 20 in the 2023 global box office after opening weekend alone—and it's sure to climb higher from there.

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Write to Moises Mendez II at [email protected]

Highest-Grossing Concert Tours of All Time

Old hippies love to brag about the time they paid a mere $6.50 to see Led Zeppelin at Madison Square Garden in 1973. How times have changed. Today, when your favorite marquee act comes to town, you'll plunk down the equivalent of a new car payment (plus those fun processing fees) for a pair of seats you hope are in the same zip code as the concert stage.   

Now more than ever, major concert tours translate to megabucks for superstar artists who otherwise earn only fractions of a cent per digital song download or stream. To help ensure arena and stadium sellouts, today's stage sets and audio-visual razzle-dazzle must go bigger than ever, which means obscenely high production costs that are passed on to ticket buyers.     

The result is box-office numbers that routinely reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars. To give you an idea of how much scratch there is to be made from playing "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" for the thousandth time, we've rounded up the highest-grossing concert tours ever.

47. Depeche Mode 'Global Spirit Tour'

Years: 2017-18

Number of shows: 130

Gross: $202 million

Note: The numbers are from Pollstar and Billboard . Each gross amount is in the original U.S. dollars and hasn't been adjusted for inflation.

Bottom Line: Depeche Mode 'Global Spirit Tour'

Fans just couldn't get enough of this Depeche Mode tour that spanned the globe and mined their back catalog for '80s New Wave gems like "Black Celebration" and "Everything Counts."

The Mode made a mint and in 2020 were welcomed to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

46. Bon Jovi 'Lost Highway Tour'

Years: 2007-08

Number of shows: 99

Gross: $210.7 million

Bottom Line: Bon Jovi 'Lost Highway Tour'

The final full Bon Jovi tour to feature lead guitarist Richie Sambora was originally intended as a greatest hits outing. But the surprise success of the band's "Lost Highway" LP turned it into an album-support affair.

Among the band's faithful, it's remembered as the tour when an over-excited female fan jumped Jon Bon Jovi onstage at a concert in Ireland, smothered him with hugs and kisses, and had to be dragged off stage by security.   

45. Metallica 'World Magnetic Tour'

Years: 2008-10

Number of shows: 187

Gross: $217.2 million

Bottom Line: Metallica 'World Magnetic Tour'

Headbangers celebrated the 2008 release of Metallica's "Death Magnetic."

After years of subpar albums and radio-friendly hits like "Enter Sandman," the LP signaled a return to the band's bone-crunching, thrash-tastic roots.

On the record's supporting tour, arenas packed with longhairs wearing faded "Kill 'Em All" T-shirts helped make this the 12th highest-grossing endeavor of the 2000s.

44. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 'The Rising Tour'

Years: 2002-03

Number of shows: 120

Gross: $221 million

Bottom Line: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 'The Rising Tour'

In the aftermath of 9/11 and hot off the first new album recorded with the E Street Band since "Born in the U.S.A.," Bruce and company hit the road for a cathartic world tour that had fans in Boss-induced bliss.

Notable gigs included the first concerts held at Boston's Fenway Park since 1973, plus a 10-night stand at New Jersey's Giants Stadium that grossed $38.8 million alone.

43. Justin Timberlake 'The Man of the Woods'

Years: 2018-19

Number of shows: 115

Gross: $226.3 million

Bottom Line: Justin Timberlake 'The Man of the Woods'

The pop superstar's tunes aren't everyone's cup of tea, but like his hero Michael Jackson (Justin Timberlake has called him "untouchable"), there's no question the man puts on one of helluva an entertaining show.

This tour for the 2018 album "Man of the Woods" played to more than 1.75 million fans and won raves from even the snobbiest of music critics.

42. Lady Gaga 'The Monster Ball Tour'

Years: 2009-11

Number of shows: 203

Gross: $227.4 million

Bottom Line: Lady Gaga 'The Monster Ball Tour'

Lady Gaga's "Little Monsters" (as her fans are known) came out of the woodwork for this extensive worldwide arena tour the diva described as "the first-ever pop electro opera."

The high-concept show, with its over-the-top costumes and stage sets, sold so many tickets it set a record for the highest-grossing ever by an artist making their tour-headlining debut. 

41. Justin Timberlake 'The 20/20 Experience World Tour'

Years: 2013-15

Number of shows: 134 

Gross: $231.6 million

Bottom Line: Justin Timberlake 'The 20/20 Experience World Tour'

Bottom line: Smooth as silk, Justin Timberlake knocked 'em dead on this tour that's his biggest moneymaker to date.

If you missed it in person, the final show in Las Vegas was captured by director Jonathan Demme for the highly entertaining concert film "Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids" — available for streaming on Netflix.

40. Bon Jovi 'This House Is Not for Sale Tour'

Years: 2017-19

Number of shows: 95

Gross: $232.1 million

Bottom Line: Bon Jovi 'This House Is Not for Sale Tour'

No Bon Jovi devotee will ever rank the band's 14th studio album "This House Is Not for Sale" up there with the likes of "Slippery When Wet."

Yet that didn't stop the '80s hair-metal stalwarts from selling some 2.26 million tickets on this trek that traveled the globe from Las Vegas to Lima, Peru.

39. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 'Magic Tour'

Number of shows: 100

Gross: $235 million

Bottom Line: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 'Magic Tour'

The Boss blew away audiences in North America and Europe on this outing that would sadly be the last for founding E Street Band member and organist Danny Federici, who passed away in spring 2008.

Though the shows clocked in at just over two hours (shorter than usual for Springsteen), the band brought it with a mix of greatest hits, tunes from the underappreciated "Magic" album, and covers of rock 'n' roll oldies like "Gloria" and "Wooly Bully."

38. The Eagles 'An Evening With The Eagles'

Number of shows: 87

Gross: $248.6 million

Bottom Line: The Eagles 'An Evening With The Eagles'

Following the 2016 passing of founding band member Glenn Frey, the Eagles' touring juggernaut seemed done for.

"I did say that I thought that was the end of the band," Don Henley told the Los Angeles Times in 2017, "But I reserve the right to change my mind."

Don never met a dollar he didn't covet, and later that year, the group hit the road with a revamped lineup, including Frey's son Deacon and country star Vince Gill.

36. Pink Floyd 'The Division Bell Tour' (Tie)

Number of shows: 110

Gross: $250 million

Bottom Line: Pink Floyd 'The Division Bell Tour'

The last-ever tour under the Pink Floyd banner saw sold-out stadium crowds spacing out to early psychedelic jams like "Astronomy Domine" and, on occasion, "The Dark Side of the Moon" album played in its entirety.

Though chief songwriter and bassist Roger Waters had quit the band nearly a decade earlier, that didn't deter some 6 million fans from turning up to hear guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour play "Comfortably Numb" through a 232,000-watt quadraphonic sound system, blowing their minds — and eardrums.

36. Cher 'Living Proof: The Farewell Tour' (Tie)

Years: 2002-05

Number of shows: 326

Bottom Line: Cher 'Living Proof: The Farewell Tour'

For this marathon retirement tour, the self-dubbed "Cher-est show on earth," the diva pulled out all the stops.

She made a flamboyant, grand entrance atop a giant crystal chandelier; rode a paper-mâché pachyderm on stage; and in her late 50s, wore her infamous fishnet/thong outfit for " If I Could Turn Back Time ."

In 2008, those who believed they'd already seen "Believe" performed for the last time were ecstatic when Cher re-emerged to launch a lengthy Las Vegas residency and, in 2014, embark on yet another farewell tour.

35. Taylor Swift 'The 1989 World Tour'

Number of shows: 85

Gross: $250.7 million

Bottom Line: Taylor Swift 'The 1989 World Tour'

You doubted Tay-Tay's drawing power? Shame! Form a heart with your hands and show love for the country-turned-pop superstar's mega-grossing tour in support of her mega-selling album "1989."

How could your average "Swiftie" afford an average $380-per-ticket price for the tour's North American legs? Only the Visa and Mastercard collections departments know for sure. But no doubt the selfies were worth it.  

34. Eagles 'Long Road Out of Eden Tour'

Years: 2008-11

Number of shows: 161

Gross: $251.1 million

Bottom Line: Eagles 'Long Road Out of Eden Tour'

Like your local classic rock radio station still getting mileage out of spinning "Life in the Fast Lane" for the millionth time, this aptly named Eagles tour had legs for four long years.

Just two years prior, the band had completed its third wildly successful reunion tour and certainly wasn't strapped for cash.

But if fans were willing to pony up for "Desperado" one ... more ... time, Don Henley and the gang were happy to oblige.  

33. The Eagles 'History of the Eagles — Live in Concert'

Number of shows: 147

Gross: $253 million

Bottom Line: The Eagles 'History of the Eagles — Live in Concert'

Bottom line: The last tour to feature guitarist/vocalist Glenn Frey before his death in 2016, this lucrative Eagles' flight was launched not to promote a new album, but rather a DVD documentary chronicling the band's history.

It paid off big-time with more than 2 million fans turning out to hear a nightly setlist of hits and early rarities like "Train Leaves Here This Morning."

32. Beyonce and Jay-Z (aka The Carters) 'On The Run II Tour'

Number of shows: 48

Gross: $253.6 million

Bottom Line: Beyonce and Jay-Z (aka The Carters) 'On The Run II Tour'

The hip-hop/pop power couple — known as The Carters when performing as a duo — played to packed stadiums on this European and North American trek, ringing up one of 2018's most lucrative tours.

Forbes estimates Bey and Jay have a combined worth of $1.255 billion. "My great-great-grandchildren already rich," Beyoncé sings on the track "Boss" from The Carters' latest album "Everything Is Love," adding, "That's a lot of brown children on your Forbes list."

31. Beyoncé 'The Formation World Tour'

Number of shows: 49

Gross: $256.1 million

Bottom Line: Beyoncé 'The Formation World Tour'

Only time will tell, but in the eyes of many Beyonce fans, known as "The Beyhive," this stadium-tour extravaganza to promote the acclaimed "Lemonade" album will go down as her most iconic and visually stunning.

Not only did Queen Bey serve up "Lemonade" songs and greatest hits with intensity, but she did so on a massive stage set featuring a revolving, 60-foot-high video-screen cube nicknamed the "Monolith."

Just as impressive was the conveyor-belt catwalk extending into the audience, where Bey and her dancers stomped and splashed in a pool of water for the encore numbers.  

30. Justin Bieber 'Purpose World Tour'

Years: 2016-17

Number of shows: 162

Gross: $256.5 million

Bottom Line: Justin Bieber 'Purpose World Tour'

Doing his part to crush the spirits of true musical artists everywhere, this two-year Bieb parade proves there's a boatload of bucks to be made from reportedly lip-synching at least half the setlist and pouting like a spoiled teen through every other dance routine.

"Beliebers" were prepared to shovel even more cash into the pop star's coffers, but he canceled the final 14 shows, citing physical and mental exhaustion.

29. Bon Jovi 'Because We Can'

Number of shows: 102

Gross: $259.5 million

Bottom Line: Bon Jovi 'Because We Can'

This list's only 1980s hair metal band, Bon Jovi raked it in on a busy 11-month tour that'd technically be the last for lead guitarist Richie Sambora, who called it quits after a single show — the tour opener in Washington, D.C.

Jon Bon Jovi and the band pressed on, playing "Livin' on a Prayer" to some 2.65 million ticket buyers and winding up with the No. 1 grossing tour of 2013.

Perhaps the tour should've been renamed "Because We Can ... Still Make a Fortune Sans Sambora"?

28. The Rolling Stones 'Bridges to Babylon Tour'

Years: 1997-98

Number of shows: 97

Gross: $274 million

Bottom Line: The Rolling Stones 'Bridges to Babylon Tour'

Fans forever remember this stadium tour for the surprise spectacle of the Stones sprinting over a 150-foot-long telescoping bridge that extended from the main stage to a smaller "B stage' where they'd rock a three-song set of rarities.

Mechanical catwalks are common now, but in the 1990s, it was a fairly new gimmick dreamt up by Mick Jagger, drummer Charlie Watts and the late great stage designer Mark Fisher , who spent his long career creating elaborate concert backdrops for everyone from Madonna to Metallica.    

27. Paul McCartney 'Out There! Tour'

Number of shows: 91

Gross: $275.7 million

Bottom line: In support of the album "New," Sir Paul traveled a long and winding tour road that featured his first-ever performances in Poland, Costa Rica and South Korea.

Another memorable first happened on stage in Goiânia, Brazil, where Macca was swarmed by grasshoppers , one of which he introduced to the audience as "Harold."

Bottom Line: Paul McCartney 'Out There! Tour'

In support of the album "New," Sir Paul traveled a long and winding tour road that featured his first-ever performances in Poland, Costa Rica and South Korea.

26. Celine Dion 'Taking Chances World Tour'

Years: 2008-09

Number of shows: 132

Gross: $279.2 million

Bottom Line: Celine Dion 'Taking Chances World Tour'

Celine Dion temporarily left the comfy confines of her Caesars Palace Las Vegas residency for this worldwide jaunt that hit the box-office jackpot.

Like her Sin City shows, the production razzle-dazzle and chest-thumping vocal thrills were off the charts.

And as sure as the Titanic sits at the bottom of the Atlantic, every performance climaxed with a soaring "My Heart Will Go On."  

25. One Direction 'Where We Are Tour'

Number of shows: 69

Gross: $290.1 million

Bottom Line: One Direction 'Where We Are Tour'

The English boy band made serious bank on this stadium tour that incredibly managed to fill massive venues like London's Wembley Stadium; Foxborough, Massachusetts's Gillette Stadium; and Pasadena's Rose Bowl for three nights each.

Take that, 'N Sync!

24. Madonna 'The MDNA Tour'

Number of shows: 88

Gross: $305.1 million

Bottom Line: Madonna 'The MDNA Tour'

When fans griped that ticket prices for this tour were too high, Madge famously told Newsweek, "So work all year, scrape the money together and come to my show. I'm worth it." Hmm. Has someone forgotten their starving-artist days, working at a New York City Dunkin' Donuts to pay the rent?

Those who saved their pennies saw the Material Girl stage a series of provocative, big-budget production numbers that were at turns violent, campy, political and, of course, sexual.

Fans and critics ate it up. Every date sold out. Madonna was in box-office ecstasy.  

23. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 'The River Tour'

Number of shows: 89

Gross: $306 million

Bottom Line: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 'The River Tour'

For most (if not all) of the tour's U.S. leg, after opening with an outtake from the "The River" LP, Bruce and cohorts played the much-loved 1980 double album in its entirety — fulfilling the wildest dreams of so-called "Bruce Tramps," as hardcore fans are known.

Along with rarely played gems "Stolen Car" and "Wreck on the Highway," the faithful also rocked out to old faves like "Hungry Heart" and "Out in the Street."

Many gigs ran more than 3-1/2 hours, offering lots of bang for your Bruce bucks.  

22. The Rolling Stones 'Licks Tour'

Gross: $311 million

Bottom Line: The Rolling Stones 'Licks Tour'

This hit parade in support of the Stones' 40th anniversary "Forty Licks" compilation album found "The World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band" rocking a mix of small theaters, indoor arenas and stadiums. Yet no matter the venue's size, then as now, Mick and the gang charged among the steepest ticket prices in the biz.

A treat for Stones freaks, the setlists occasionally featured deep cuts like "Loving Cup" and "Neighbours." And lucky fans at a handful of gigs saw AC/DC's Malcolm and Angus Young join the band for a cover of the blues classic " Rock Me Baby ."   

21. The Rolling Stones 'Voodoo Lounge Tour'

Years: 1994-95

Number of shows: 124

Gross: $320 million

Bottom Line: The Rolling Stones 'Voodoo Lounge Tour'

Following the release of "Voodoo Lounge" — the Stones' first album sans original bassist Bill Wyman — the band embarked on a global trek that would become the highest-grossing tour of the 1990s.

Replacement bassist Darryl Jones (still playing with the Stones to this day) joined drummer Charlie Watts in laying down the beat as Keith Richards riffed and Mick Jagger aerobicized across stages in 31 countries.

Also earning nice tour paychecks were the variety of opening acts (Blind Melon, Spin Doctors, Stone Temple Pilots), now buried in a mid-'90s time capsule.

20. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 'Wrecking Ball World Tour'

Years: 2012-13

Number of shows: 133

Gross: $340.6 million

Bottom Line: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 'Wrecking Ball World Tour'

This was the first outing after the death of Bruce Springsteen's legendary saxophonist Clarence "The Big Man" Clemons, and the tour was a cathartic experience for the band and fans alike.

With Clemons' nephew Jake taking over sax duties, and backed by a larger-than-usual ensemble — including backup singers and a horn section — The Boss showcased several tracks from 2012's "Wrecking Ball" album, which featured some of his rawest songwriting in years.

During the encore, fans heard classics like " Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out ," performed as a tribute to the late Clemons.

19. Taylor Swift 'Reputation Stadium Tour'

Number of shows: 53

Gross: $345.7 million

Bottom Line: Taylor Swift 'Reputation Stadium Tour'

In the process of topping the take from her own 2015 tour (see this list's No. 35), Tay-Tay traveled to seven countries, averaged an eye-popping $6.5-million gross per show, and solidified her reputation as one of the most bankable acts in the biz.   

18. Elton John 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road'

Years: 2018-present (in progress, on hiatus)

Number of shows: 272 (scheduled)

Gross: $358.6 million (and counting)

Bottom Line: Elton John 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road'

After more than half a century on the road, in 2018 Sir Elton announced he'd be hanging it up, but not before a marathon retirement tour to let fans sing along to "Tiny Dancer" one last time.

Though John shelved his Donald Duck costume back in the '80s, the show is still packed with enough production bombast and greatest hits to ensure his yellow brick tour road is paved with box-office gold.   

17. The Police 'Reunion Tour'

Number of shows: 151

Gross: $362 million

Bottom Line: The Police 'Reunion Tour'

After enduring the band's 21-year hiatus, not to mention Sting's string of snoozer solo albums, Police devotees were ultimately rewarded with a reunion tour that revisited all the hits — from "Roxanne" to "Every Breath You Take."

Early in the tour, it seemed as if old rivals Sting and drummer Stewart Copeland might soon be back at each other's throats, but there's nothing like big box-office bucks to help smooth troubled waters.

16. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood 'World Tour'

Years: 2014-17

Number of shows: 390

Gross: $364.3 million

Bottom Line: Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood 'World Tour'

After the country superstar's 13-year "retirement," fans again got the chance to hoist a $14 cup of Bud Light and sing along to " Friends in Low Places " on this extensive North American tour co-headlined by Brooks' wife, Trisha Yearwood.

If you're wondering why it took four years of gigs for this tour to gross what others earn in a year or two, it's largely due to Brooks' longstanding policy to charge the same price for every ticket in a given venue, regardless of seat location.

15. Bruno Mars '24K Magic World Tour'

Number of shows: 215

Gross: $367.7 million

Bottom Line: Bruno Mars '24K Magic World Tour'

Channeling the likes of Prince and James Brown, Mars' uber-slick stage show pumped a pretty penny into his treasure chest as it circled the planet, including a penultimate string of stadium concerts in his hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii.

14. U2 'Vertigo Tour'

Years: 2005-06

Number of shows: 131

Gross: $389 million

Bottom Line: U2 'Vertigo Tour'

Bono counting off " Uno, dos, tres, catorce! " kicks off this hugely successful tour's title song, "Vertigo." Want more numbers? The tour sold some 4.6-million tickets across five continents. During Vertigo's Latin American leg, more than 700 hours of footage were shot for the concert film "U2 3D."

Throughout the endeavor, the band played 60 different songs, including rare tracks from their 1980 debut album "Boy." And for concertgoers who arrived early, the tour featured 17 different opening acts, including The Killers, Kanye West and Arcade Fire, who at the time were arguably a hotter band than U2.   

13. U2 'The Joshua Tree Tours 2017 and 2019'

Year: 2017 and 2019

Number of shows: 66

Gross: $390.8 million

U2 'The Joshua Tree Tours 2017 and 2019'

In the aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, U2 realized the themes of their signature 1987 album, "The Joshua Tree," were as relevant as ever. So the band embarked on a five-month string of stadium concerts that featured the platter played in its entirety, plus some of their early hits.

Snooty critics charged U2 had become a nostalgia act, but those who missed the album's original tour clearly weren't concerned — snapping up more than 2.7-million tickets for a joyous journey through the past.

In 2019, the tour was revived for 15 dates in Oceania and Asia.

12. Pink 'Beautiful Trauma World Tour'

Number of shows: 159

Gross: $397.3 million

Bottom Line: Pink 'Beautiful Trauma World Tour'

The pop diva took her powerhouse vocals and Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics to arenas for this wildly successful jaunt that did notably huge business Down Under — where Pink's rabid Aussie fan base cheered an impressive run of 27 shows.

11. Madonna 'Sticky and Sweet Tour'

Gross: $408 million

Bottom Line: Madonna 'Sticky and Sweet Tour'

While M maniacs generally agree nothing can ever touch the controversial, legendary heights of 1990's "Blond Ambition Tour," this worldwide jaunt in support of the underrated "Hard Candy" album was no slouch.  

Performing in front of more than 3.5 million fans in 32 countries, Madge underwent countless costume changes and worked a monster stage backed by dazzling video screens and a platoon of dancers.

A sweet treat for longtime fans, the stripped-down "Old School" segment of the show featured Miss Ciccone strapping on an electric guitar for a head-banging version of " Borderline ."   

10. Rolling Stones 'No Filter Tour'

Years: 2017-present (in progress, on hiatus)

Number of shows: 60 (scheduled)

Gross: $415.6 million (and counting)

Bottom line: The Stones keep rolling — rocking stadiums from Dublin to Detroit. In 2019, Mick Jagger underwent a heart-valve surgery that sidelined the tour for months.

But the band made good on the postponed dates, culminating in a Miami show where "Gimme Shelter" was played right on cue as rain began to pour with Hurricane Dorian knocking on Florida's door.

Bottom Line: Rolling Stones 'No Filter Tour'

The Stones keep rolling — rocking stadiums from Dublin to Detroit. In 2019, Mick Jagger underwent a heart-valve surgery that sidelined the tour for months.

9. Metallica 'WorldWired Tour'

Years: 2016-present (in progress, on hiatus)

Number of shows: 178 (scheduled)

Gross: $416.9 million (and counting)

Bottom Line: Metallica 'WorldWired Tour'

The thrash metal legends have come a long way since their live debut in 1982 at a small club in Anaheim, California. The cover charge was $15. Attendance numbered around 200 (mostly the band's friends). And the only Metallica originals played were "Hit The Lights" and "Jump in the Fire."

Flash forward to this monster tour in support of 2016's "Hardwired ... to Self-Destruct" album. The average ticket price is nearly $100, and you're more likely to be sitting in a football stadium's nosebleed seats than crackin' ribs in a mosh pit.

8. AC/DC 'Black Ice World Tour'

Number of shows: 168

Gross: $441.6 million

Bottom line: AC/DC may do dirty deeds done dirt cheap, but when it comes to concert tickets, you'll pay through the nose.

The Aussie rockers averaged a $2.6 million per-show gross on this tour, which would be the last for founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young (he passed in 2017) and longtime drummer Phil Rudd. It was also the last full tour for lead singer Brian Johnson, forced to quit the subsequent "Rock or Bust Tour" due to serious hearing damage.

The band's future is up in the air. So consider yourself lucky if you attended, no matter the cost, and played air guitar to "T.N.T." and "Hells Bells" for what may have been the last time.   

Bottom Line: AC/DC 'Black Ice World Tour'

AC/DC may do dirty deeds done dirt cheap, but when it comes to concert tickets, you'll pay through the nose.

7. Billy Joel 'Billy Joel in Concert'

Years: 2014-21 (in progress)

Number of shows: 182 (scheduled)

Gross: $448.2 million (and counting)

Bottom line: Joel hasn't released an album of new pop/rock material in more than 25 years, and hasn't needed to. Not when he continually packs arenas with boomers belting out "Piano Man" in karaoke mass.

This current tour, scheduled to wrap in 2021, birthed Joel's NYC Madison Square Garden residency, in which he plays his hometown venue at least once a month. Since his first MSG gig in 1978, he's headlined the arena more than 100 times. That's a lot of "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant."

Note: Joel's inclusion on this list is subject to debate. This tour is not in support of a specific album and has been extended every year in seeming perpetuity since it began. However Pollstar and Billboard consider it a single tour, hence its inclusion.

Bottom Line: Billy Joel 'Billy Joel in Concert'

Joel hasn't released an album of new pop/rock material in more than 25 years, and hasn't needed to. Not when he continually packs arenas with boomers belting out "Piano Man" in karaoke mass.

6. Roger Waters 'The Wall Live'

Years: 2010-13

Number of shows: 219

Gross: $458.6 million

Bottom Line: Roger Waters 'The Wall Live'

A politically charged concert spectacle showcasing Pink Floyd's landmark 1979 concept album "The Wall," the tour found the band's chief lyricist and bassist traveling to four continents and playing before some 4 million fans to the tune of nearly half a billion dollars in ticket sales.

While that's an unfathomable fortune to the layman, all in all, it's just another brick in Waters' behemoth financial wall.

5. Coldplay 'A Head Full of Dreams Tour'

Number of shows: 122

Gross: $523 million

Bottom Line: Coldplay 'A Head Full of Dreams Tour'

If you gambled this slot would belong to yet another Cher or KISS "retirement tour," you lose.

The winners are Chris Martin and company, who put on a massive laser/pyro extravaganza that sold over half a billion tickets worldwide, including four sellouts at London's 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium.

4. The Rolling Stones 'A Bigger Bang Tour

Years: 2005-07

Number of shows: 144

Gross: $558.3 million

Bottom Line: The Rolling Stones 'A Bigger Bang Tour

This Stones tour was so hot, even then-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was scalping tickets — charging his political donors $100,000 to join "The Terminator" in his VIP box for the opening concert at Boston's Fenway Park.

Mick and Keith were not happy, but by journey's end, it was all smiles as a "Bigger Bang" busted all box-office records and became the top-grossing tour of all time. Until ...    

3. Guns N' Roses 'Not in This Lifetime ... Tour'

Years: 2016-19

Number of shows: 175

Gross: $584.2 million

Bottom Line: Guns N' Roses 'Not in This Lifetime ... Tour'

In the '80s, when up-and-coming GNR was hitchhiking home from their own gigs, they surely never imagined becoming the biggest metal band in the world, let alone splitting up and ultimately regrouping for one of rock history's most lucrative tours.

Sure, Axl Rose has a potbelly, but he's still got the pipes (sort of) to belt out " Welcome To The Jungle ," bringing more than 5 million fans to their sha-na-na-na-na-knees-knees!  

2. U2 '360° 'Tour'

Gross: $736.4 million

Bottom Line: U2 '360° 'Tour'

Behold " The Claw "! That's the nickname given to the gargantuan, 165-foot-high arachnid-like structure that towered over U2's stage on this monumentally successful tour.

Loaded with video screens and stacked with an ear-splitting sound system, The Claw cost an estimated $25 to $30 million, and was so massive it took 120 semi-trucks to move it between stadium concerts where seating was in the round — hence the tour's "360°" moniker.

Over three years, more than 7.2-million fans enjoyed a setlist spanning the band's formidable catalog, including Bono donning a laser-light suit for encore numbers like " Ultraviolet ." And if you're wondering whatever became of The Claw, in 2019 it was permanently installed at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah .

1. Ed Sheeran '÷ Tour'

Number of shows: 255

Gross: $776.2 million

Bottom line: Step back, Bono. After touring six continents, 2019 saw Ed Sheeran leap over U2's "Claw" and land in the top-grossing slot.

"Sheerios" obsessed with the English singer-songwriter's syrupy-sweet ditties bought an estimated 8.9 million tickets, leading to his crowning as the all-time king of concert cash.

What, you thought number one would be another Rolling Stones tour? You're not alone.

Bottom Line: Ed Sheeran '÷ Tour'

Step back, Bono. After touring six continents, 2019 saw Ed Sheeran leap over U2's "Claw" and land in the top-grossing slot.

Related: Richest Singers l Richest Musicians

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Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Cracks Top 5 on List of Top Music Concert Films of All Time: Here’s the Top 10

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour leads the list.

By Paul Grein

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Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé grossed $1.9 million in its third weekend in U.S. theaters, according to boxofficemojo.com , bringing its total to $30.8 million. That makes it one of the top five grossing concert films in history.

It is far behind the all-time leader, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour , which grossed $179.2 million in a nine-week run following its release in October. Swift’s film is No. 11 among all films for 2023. Beyoncé’s film is No. 60. That isn’t meant to take the shine off Bey’s film, it just goes to show what a phenomenon Swift’s film was. ( Beyoncé and Taylor Swift attended each other’s premieres, a show of mutual respect and support that was heartening to see.)

Beyoncé’s film ranked No. 1 at the weekly boxoffice two weeks ago, becoming the fourth concert film to achieve that feat. Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert and Michael Jackson’s This Is It  each logged one week on top of the domestic boxoffice. Swift’s film became the first concert film to top the domestic box office for two weeks. 

Beyoncé wrote, directed and produced Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé , which chronicles the development and execution of the Renaissance World Tour, Beyoncé’s 2023 stadium tour in support of her Grammy-winning album  Renaissance  (2022).

In a piece highlighting the seven best moments of Beyoncé’s film, Billboard ’s Kyle Denis noted: “The film provides a rare peek into Beyoncé’s behind-the-scenes process, namely how she runs her ship as the Mother of the House of Renaissance. Over nearly three hours, the documentary treats fans to pristine footage of several nights of the superstar’s record-breaking Renaissance World Tour. Seamless edits showcase the endless variety of haute couture costumes the ‘Break My Soul’ singer flaunted across her 56 sold-out shows, and intimate black-and-white scenes present the Beyoncé her family sees off stage.”

Here are the 10 highest-grossing music concert films, according to boxofficemojo.com. This list counts only domestic box-office receipts, which explains the absence of previous Swift projects such as the Netflix documentary  Miss Americana  (2020).

Note: Boxofficemojo.com’s list of top-grossing contemporary music concert films doesn’t include Renaissance , which is more of documentary than Swift’s film, which is a straight concert film. But since Renaissance is based on a concert, and since other films in their top 10 also include documentary material, we’re counting it.

Glee: The 3D Concert Movie

Release Date: Aug. 12, 2011

Domestic Gross: $11.9 million

Director: Kevin Tancharoen

Running Time: 1:24

Notes: This concert doc was shot during the Glee Live! In Concert! Tour stop in East Rutherford, N.J. Would fans pay to see Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron and other Glee favorites when they could see them for free every week on TV? More than a few did. In addition to behind-the-scenes footage, the film portrays the series’ influence on teenagers, including a gay kid, one with Asperger syndrome and a cheerleader of short stature. The fan segments were created by documentary filmmaker Jennifer Arnold.

The accompanying soundtrack album, Glee: The 3D Concert Movie , didn’t do that well. It reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200, becoming the first Glee title to fall short of the top 10 on that chart .

Madonna: Truth or Dare

Release Date: May 10, 1991

Domestic Gross: $15 million

Director: Alek Keshishian

Running Time: 2:00

Notes:   The doc followed Madonna on her Blond Ambition world tour of 1990. The movie’s tag line: “The ultimate dare is to tell the truth.” Madonna: Truth or Dare  was known as  In Bed With Madonna  internationally. The film was initially intended to be a traditional concert film, but director Keshishian was so impressed with Madonna’s backstage life that he persuaded the star to make it the focus of the film. The film was edited to be in black-and-white, in order to emulate cinéma vérité, while the performance scenes are in color.

Madonna was nominated for a Razzie Award for worst actress for this film. The Razzies deserve a razzie for that really dumb move: This was a great music doc.

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience

Release Date: Feb. 27, 2009

Domestic Gross: $19. 1 million

Director: Bruce Hendricks

Running Time: 1:16

Notes: Ah, youth. Nick Jonas was just 16 when this film came out. Joe was 19; Kevin was 21. This 3D concert film captured their 2008-09 The Burning Up concert tour. An accompanying album, Music From the 3D Concert Experience , was released three days before the film and entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3.

Katy Perry: Part of Me

Release Date: July 5, 2012

Domestic Gross: $25.3 million

Director: Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz

Running Time: 1:33

Notes: This film followed Perry on her 2011-12 California Dreams world tour. The film was released less than a year after Perry’s Teenage Dream tied Michael Jackson’s Bad record for the most No. 1 singles from an album. (Never fear: He’s coming up on this list.) Part of Me took its title from the title of a then-recent Perry smash, which entered the Hot 100 at No. 1 on March 3, 2012. The film follows Perry through her tour, while providing insight into her relationship with stardom.

One Direction: This Is Us

Release Date: Aug. 30, 2013

Domestic Gross: $28.9 million

Director: Morgan Spurlock

Running Time: 1:32

Notes: This is the highest-grossing contemporary music concert film by a group. 1D released this film in between their albums Take Me Home and Midnight Memories , both of which entered the Billboard 200 at No.  1. Billed as an intimate, all-access look at life on the road for the global pop stars,  This Is Us  contains live concert footage from their Take Me Home Tour stop at London’s O2 Arena, and footage from their lives both pre- and post- X Factor .

Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé

Release Date: Dec. 1, 2023

Domestic Gross: $30.8 million (so far)

Director: Beyoncé

Running time: 2:49

Notes: In his piece listing the seven highlights of Beyoncé’s film, Billboard ’s Kyle Denis notes that the film “is as much about the enigmatic artistic genius as it is about community — the various intersecting communities that crafted the album and tour, enjoyed the music at the concerts, and inspired the throughlines of Black queer liberation that course through Queen Bey’s most recent musical era.”

Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z; mother, Ms. Tina Knowles; and three children, Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir Carter, are featured in the film. There are also cameos from Diana Ross, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar and Tracee Ellis Ross, as well as Bey’s former Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson.

The film premiered at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles on Nov. 25, before the film’s theatrical release in the U.S. on Dec. 1. 

Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert

Release Date: Feb. 1, 2008

Domestic Gross: $65.3 million

Running Time: 1:14

Notes: Cyrus was just 15 when this film was released, yet it became the highest-grossing contemporary music concert film ever by a female artist. (For the time being.) The film features Miley’s dad Billy Ray Cyrus and special guests Jonas Brothers. An album, Best of Both Worlds Concert , was released the following month (on March 11), and reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 dated May 3, 2008. The film premiered on Disney Channel on July 26, 2008, reaching 5.9 million viewers.

Michael Jackson’s This Is It

Release Date: Oct. 28, 2009

Domestic Gross: $72.1 million

Director: Kenny Ortega

Running Time: 1:51

Notes: “Like you’ve never seen him before” was the tagline for this film, which was released just four months after Jackson’s shocking death on June 25, 2009. It’s a compilation of interviews, dancer auditions, rehearsals and backstage footage as Jackson prepared for his 50-show run at the 02 Arena in London (which was set to kick off on July 13.) There was a heated debate at the time about whether Jackson, who was famously a perfectionist, would have wanted this rehearsal footage to be released. Here he was, working toward a goal – but he wasn’t there yet. However, many thought seeing the work process here humanized him. Turns out achieving perfection is bloody hard work. A double-disk soundtrack from the film entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1.

Jackson’s nephew, Taj Jackson, makes a strong argument that, since Jackson didn’t get This Is It to the O2 stage, This Is It should be viewed as a documentary, not a concert film. But since Jackson died, this is the closest we will ever get to a concert film from the show he was creating at the time of his death. Anyway, for now, at least, the film is listed in boxofficemojo.com’s list of top concert films.

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Release Date: Feb. 11, 2011

Domestic Gross: $73 million

Director: Jon M. Chu

Running time: 1:45

Notes: “Find out what’s possible if you never give up” was the inspiring tagline for this film, which followed the then-16-year-old pop star on his 2010 concert tour. The film, which also featured Boyz II Men, Miley Cyrus and Sean Kingston, is the first (and only) film from MTV Films to receive a G-rating. An EP, Never Say Never: The Remixes , was released three days after the film. It entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. A sequel,  Justin Bieber’s Believe , was released on Dec. 25, 2013, but it grossed just $6.2 million domestically.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Release Date: Oct. 13, 2023

Domestic Gross: $179.2 million

Director: Sam Wrench

Notes: Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour  was shot over the course of Swift’s first three shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., where she performed a total of six shows in early August. It was directed by Sam Wrench, who received a Grammy nomination late last year for directing  Billie Eilish Live at the O2 , which was a contender for best music film. He has also worked on projects by BTS, Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Mary J. Blige.

The Eras Tour  film depicts performances of almost all of the songs on the tour’s standard set list. A handful of songs were cut to keep the film’s running time under three hours. The film received critical acclaim for capturing the show’s spectacle and energy. Billboard ’s Katie Atkinson’s main takeaway : “Whether you never attended The Eras Tour or you went dozens of times, you will leave this movie with a new perspective of the career-spanning trek. While front-row fans or the JumboTron cameras might have captured a cute facial expression or dance move here and there, the cameras caught  everything , making it feel like you’re onstage with Swift and crew.” 

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Madonna Becomes The First Female Artist To Score Six Tours With Over $100 Million Gross

Madonna is not done making history yet.

More details below…

Billboard has taken to press to share the final numbers for Madonna’s ‘Celebration Tour’ now that it has wrapped. The outlet reporters that the trek brought in a total of $225.4 million.

As a result of this tour, Madonna now becomes the first female artist to score six tours with over $100 million in tour gross. Some of her other tours to reach the $100 million mark are the ‘Re-Invention World Tour, ‘Confessions Tour,’ ‘Sticky & Sweet Tour,’ ‘The MDNA Tour,’ and ‘The Rebel Heart Tour,’ 

Her highest grossing tour is the ‘Sticky & Sweet Tour’ with over $400 million in gross.

Notably, the only other acts to score six tours with over $100 million are the Eagles, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and U2 .

In total Madge has now brought in a career gross of $1.6 billion.

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White excellence.

Erm and black excellence !!! Do your homework boo

LMAOOO BUYING FOUR KIDS FROM AFRICA ISN’T BKACK EXCELLENCE BOO LMAOOO🤣🤣🤣

Madonna queen of pop culture pop music black culture art dance love peace humanity rights lgbt rights woman rights and yet gets beaten up daily by press !

lol Beyoncé slides down to #3 lol 😂

1. Madonna 2. Taylor 3. Beyonce 4. Pink 5. Celine Dion

Beyonce doesn’t slide, she’s FLUSHED.

Circles the drain….watch her go

I’m not really a Madonna fan but good for her.sorry. to say I’m.just. glad this article is not about Tayler swift swift is being treated by media like she’s the Lord. I’m glad to see someone else get accolades.

• Juicy Comments

Madonna has made history in earnest over the course of her colossal career.

And that trajectory continued this weekend in Brazil, where the Queen of Pop concluded her blockbuster ‘Celebration Tour.’

Full story below…

Iconic rocker Courtney Love is no stranger to ruffling feathers with her outspokenness over the years, but – as evidenced by quotes lifted from a recent interview – she may have stepped on the wrong toes this time.

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The World's Highest Grossing Tours of 2023

According to analysts at Pollstar, total grosses for the top 100 tours that year were up 46 percent from $6.28 billion in 2022 to $9.17 billion last year. Attendance figures were also up, rising from 59 million to 70 million - an increase of 18.4 percent.

The following chart is based on data collected by Pollstar on the world’s highest grossing tours of 2023. It reveals that at the top of this list, comes Taylor Swift with her record-breaking “ Eras Tour ” - the first ever to break the $1 billion mark - which visited 60 stadiums in total. It was followed by Beyoncé’s “Renaissance Tour”, which grossed some $580 million in 56 shows and Bruce Springsteen’s “Springsteen and E Street Band 2023 Tour” which grossed $380 million across 66 venues.

Ticket prices for the top 8 grossing worldwide tours ranged between an average of $105.16 for an Ed Sheeran ticket to more than double that for Taylor Swift - $238.95.

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This chart shows the box office gross of the highest-grossing music tours worldwide in 2023.

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The World's Highest Grossing Tours of 2023

2023 was a serious year for live music . (Although more accurately, it was a huge year for several major headliners. Many smaller acts have faced a different story entirely).

According to analysts at Pollstar, total grosses for the top 100 tours that year were up 46 percent from $6.28 billion in 2022 to $9.17 billion last year. Attendance figures were also up, rising from 59 million to 70 million - an increase of 18.4 percent.

The following chart is based on data collected by Pollstar on the world’s highest grossing tours of 2023. It reveals that at the top of this list, comes Taylor Swift with her record-breaking “ Eras Tour ” - the first ever to break the $1 billion mark - which visited 60 stadiums in total. It was followed by Beyoncé’s “Renaissance Tour”, which grossed some $579,813,546 in 56 shows and Bruce Springsteen’s “Springsteen and E Street Band 2023 Tour” which grossed $379,496,085 across 66 venues.

Ticket prices for the top 8 grossing worldwide tours ranged between an average of $105.16 for an Ed Sheeran ticket to more than double that for Taylor Swift - $238.95.

This chart shows the box office gross of the highest-grossing music tours worldwide in 2023.

Taylor Swift is about to go back on tour: Here's what to expect on the Eras Tour in Paris

After a two-month break, Taylor Swift is revitalizing her titanic Eras Tour in Paris, and fans believe there are changes coming to the show.

If you are wondering where she's playing, if there will be changes and how to score tickets, here's everything we know.

And if you're new to the Eras Tour party, you can get caught up on the first 83 shows here .

When does the Eras Tour start again?

Swift kicks off the European leg of her tour on Thursday, May 9, in Paris. She will perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, as well, in the City of Light.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

What are Taylor Swift's tour dates in Europe?

There are 69 shows left in the Eras Tour: 51 in Europe, nine in America and nine in Canada.

The European leg stretches from May all the way through a five-night stand at Wembley Stadium in London in mid-August.

See a complete list of international dates here .

After she wraps up in Europe, Swift will stop in Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis before wrapping up in Canada.

See the remaining U.S. dates here .

What is the Eras Tour set list?

The Eras Tour has featured a massive 45-song set list you can check out here . But speculation is swirling it won't look the same when Swift takes the stage in Paris.

Will Taylor Swift add 'The Tortured Poets Department' to her set list?

The tortured poet has been on hiatus keeping her stamina up by releasing a double album of 31 tracks. The 2-hours-and-2-minutes project broke a number of Billboard records as the superstar did zero press to promote it. Fans flocked to stores and streaming services to listen to all the songs from "Fortnight" to "The Manuscript."

Although the singer has not confirmed whether her 11th era album will be added to her Eras Tour set list, she did post a YouTube shorts video with two scenes that sent Easter egg decoders into a frenzy. In one of the shots, the singer is next to a railing where a "TTPD" logo appears to be (at 0:11). In the succeeding shot, her back-up dancers perform holding canes and wearing top hats, something they have not worn previously.

Swift's dancers and bandmates posted to their Instagram stories as they left for France last week. The singer did not appear at two media events with her boyfriend Travis Kelce: the Kentucky Derby and a Formula 1 race in Miami , Florida. Patrick Mahomes, Kelce's friend and Kansas City's quarterback, attended the car racing spectacular with his wife, Brittany.

Can I still get Eras Tour tickets?

Swift's show is completely sold out in Europe and North America. There are resale sites with tickets, but be wary of scams. The best way to avoid getting swindled is continuously checking links on Swift's website . There are some for resale on the sites verified by her camp.

Singapore was a hotbed for fans who traveled thousands of miles only to get turned away at the venue. In Tokyo and Australia, last-minute ticket drops happened a few days — without announcement — ahead of the shows.

Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis — the three U.S. cities Swift is visiting in the fall — have some of the heftiest price tags with Canada closely behind. In may be cheaper to travel to Warsaw, Poland, or Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Here's a list of cities with the cheapest resale tickets, according to travel website  Islands.com .

10. Vienna, Austria — total average cost: $1,089, safety score: 69.72

9. Cardiff, U.K. — total average cost: $1,061, safety score: 61.83

8. Lyon, France — total average cost: $1,047, safety score: 44.3

7. Lisbon, Portugal — total average cost: $1,028, safety score: 70.15

6. Munich, Germany — total average cost: $1,000, safety score: 78.88

5. Paris, France — total average cost: $971, safety score: 41.83

4. Stockholm, Sweden — total average cost: $935, safety score: 53.86

3. Hamburg, Germany — total average cost: $903, safety score: 57.51

2. Gelsenkirchen, Germany — total average cost: $749, safety score: 51.33

1. Warsaw, Poland — total average cost: $712, safety score: 72.98

Catch Taylor Swift live with tickets at Vivid Seats , shop merchandise , and stream her latest on Disney+ . Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Who are the opening acts?

Paramore launched the Eras Tour in Glendale, Arizona, in March 2023, so it's fitting the American rock band is opening the tour's second year. The act will open for Swift for 51 shows across Europe . The band was dubbed the 2024 Record Store Day global ambassador and surprised fans in Nashville the weekend following the release of "The Tortured Poets Department."

When the tour comes back to North America in October , Swift's opening act will be Gracie Abrams.

Where can I watch if I don't have tickets?

The Eras Tour is one of the first tours that has been followed, globally, by thousands of fans on digital platforms. Fans dedicate part of their concert experience to livestreaming as Swift performs. A few Swifties have learned how to host their own shows over social media including Tess Bohne , known as the livestream queen. Bohne goes live for (almost) every show pulling streams from Instagram and TikTok. When a livestream goes down, she fills the time with banter.

On YouTube, user @TaylorSwiftHockeyBro also livestreams the three-hour show, and on Twitch, @folkleric , is a host fans follow.

There is also an app, Swift Alert , that notifies fans who only want to watch certain eras like the acoustic, surprise set. The app sends out push alerts if there are any major announcements.

What secret songs are left?

For the past 83 shows, Swift has played an acoustic set she customizes at each stop with a guitar and piano performance. In 2024, the Eras Tour star added mashups of her songs for each stop. Here are the songs she has yet to perform:

• "Taylor Swift" (debut album): "Mary's Song" and "A Perfectly Good Heart"
• "Fearless": "The Way I Loved You," "Change," "Superstar," "We Were Happy," "That's When," "Don't You" and "Bye Bye Baby"
• "Red": "Girl At Home," "Ronan," "Forever Winter" and "Run"
• "1989": "Sweeter Than Fiction"
• "Reputation": "I Did Something Bad"
• "Lover": "London Boy," "Soon You'll Get Better" and "It's Nice to Have a Friend"
• "Folklore": "Hoax"
• "Evermore": "Happiness" and "Closure"
• "Midnights": "Paris" and "Glitch"
• "The Tortured Poets Department": all 31 tracks

Will Taylor Swift perform in 2025?

There have been many rumors that Swift will continue her show in 2025, but they are only rumors. Nothing has been announced for next year, and as of now, the tour will end in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Dec. 8.

Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the  free, weekly newsletter "This Swift Beat."

Follow Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West on  Instagram ,  TikTok  and  X as @BryanWestTV .

Watch CBS News

Beyoncé could blow away other artists for top-grossing tour

By Elizabeth Napolitano

May 12, 2023 / 12:23 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have blown past music industry records before, picking up dozens of Grammy awards and smashing streaming numbers . So, it shouldn't be any surprise that both pop stars are also on track to break another record — the highest-grossing concerts of all-time.  

Beyoncé could rake in more than $2 billion from her "Renaissance" world tour, which kicked off this week and includes 57 shows, projections show. Taylor Swift, who is also touring this year, could similarly surpass the billion-dollar mark. The country-pop singer's 20-city nationwide "Eras" tour, with 52 shows, is expected to gross a whopping $1.6 billion, Forbes reported. 

The projections are based on "the most optimistic assumptions of the number of fans buying tickets" and assume an average ticket price of $700, the publication said.  

But, while the pop queens' earnings could far exceed those of their peers, they're not the only ones raking in concert cash. 

Billboard Boxscore, a report that tracks live entertainment receipts, shows the top five highest-earning music tours of all-time have earned a staggering $635.6 million on average. 

Here is a list of the top five highest-grossing concert tours of all time, according to Billboard Boxscore. The list has been edited to exclude tours, such as Elton John's "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour," that are currently ongoing or that had repeated runs.

1. Ed Sheeran "The ÷ (Divide) Tour" (2017-19)

Based off Sheeran's third album, The Divide Tour grossed $776 million over the course of 258 shows attended by 8.9 million people. 

2. U2 "360° Tour" (2009-11)

The seven-leg world tour promoting the Irish band's 12th album grossed $736 million for 110 shows attended by 7.3 million concertgoers. 

3. Guns N' Roses "Not in This Lifetime Tour" (2016-19)

The hard-rock band's most recent tour raked in $584 million for 158 shows across the world, with 5.4 million people turning out to see them perform. 

4. The Rolling Stones "A Bigger Bang Tour" (2005-07)

The iconic rock band's tour grossed $558 million for 147 shows that brought out 3.5 million fans. The tour —one of the last before the passing of founding member, Charlie Watts — held the top spot, before being  outgrossed  by U2's "360° Tour."

5. Coldplay "A Head Full of Dreams Tour" (2016-17)

The British rock band's five-continent tour to promote its seventh album pulled in $524 million in gross revenue over 115 shows attended by 5.4 million concertgoers. 

See the full list here .

• Taylor Swift
• Beyoncé

Elizabeth Napolitano is a freelance reporter at CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and technology news. She also writes for CoinDesk. Before joining CBS, she interned at NBC News' BizTech Unit and worked on The Associated Press' web scraping team.

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Taylor swift's surprise songs from night 4 of her paris eras tour brought back mashups, share this article.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour continued its international journey on Sunday night in France (afternoon in the United States) with the final of four shows in Paris. The now 14-time Grammy winner will be touring almost non-stop for the entire year, and at each show she adds two “surprise songs” to her 44-song, three hour plus set list.

MORE:  See Taylor Swift’s sizzling costume transition at her Eras Tour Paris show

For the last night in Paris, Swift returned to her mashup ways with a combo of “The Alchemy” from The Tortured Poets Department with “Treacherous” from Red  on the guitar.   On piano, Swift sang “Begin Again” from Red with “Paris” from Midnights .

🏟️ | Paris Surprise Songs N1: “Paris” & “loml” N2: “Is It Over Now?” x “Out of the Woods” mash-up & “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” N3: “Hey Stephen” & “Maroon” N4: “The Alchemy” x “Treacherous” mash-up and “Begin Again” x “Paris” mash-up #ParisTStheErasTour pic.twitter.com/WchncODHaF — Taylor Swift Updates (@TSwiftLA) May 12, 2024

Next up, Swift heads to Stockholm for three shows starting May 17.

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